HOW MANY GENERATIONS WILL MY HISTORY CONSIST OF?
This depends on the starting date of the information given by the client. It also depends how many hours of research are commissioned by the client. A rough estimate can be provided, however, on enquiry.
WILL THE HISTORY CONTAIN BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER'S SIDES OF THE FAMILY?
One line of the family will be researched at a time. If it is the paternal line, each generation of the father's side will be traced - for example the father's father, then his father, his father etc, following that same surname.
If the client wishes the maternal side to be traced, the same process will be followed - for example the mother's father, then his father etc, following the same surname.
WILL BROTHES AND SISTERS BE INCLUDED?
Brothers and sisters will usually be discovered in the course of tracing a family back in time, particularly prior to 1901. It will not always be the case that ALL of these will be included in the history, however, as it is usually the client's wish to go back as far as possible in the agreed timescale. If it is a specific request that all brothers and sisters are sought at any time of the family history - even going forwards in time - this can be an agreed perquisite of the research.
WHAT IF MY ANCESTOR WAS ADOPTED?
Before 1930 adoptions were arranged on a private basis, either by individuals or by one of a number of charitable adoption agencies. The Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act, 1930 introduced legal adoption into Scotland from that year. Adoptions since then have normally been arranged by charitable bodies or by local authority social work departments and then ratified by the civil courts. Adoption processes are among the most confidential records held in the courts and they are closed to general public access for 100 years.
I HAVE ALREADY TRACED BACK A FEW GENERATIONS BUT NEED TO GO SIDEWAYS IN MY RESEARCH?
If the main branch of the family has been researched, but the client wishes to know more about aunts, uncles, cousins etc, this research can be carried out. Details can be agreed. Living relatives can also be searched.
CAN I REQUEST FURTHER COPIES OF THE FAMILY HISTORY?
Further copies of the history can be provided either on paper or on CD. Price on application.
WHAT OTHER RECORDS CAN BE RESEARCHED TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THE FAMILY?
Wills and testaments
In certain cases, where property is concerned, wills and testaments can be researched to gather further information relating to the family.
The inventory lists the moveable property belonging to the deceased at the time of his or her death and can include household furnishings, clothes, jewellery, books, papers, farm stock and crops, tools and machinery, money in cash, bank accounts and investments, as well as money owed to creditors and money due from debtors. Sometimes this is very detailed, with the value of every item listed. As such, it can supply a snapshot of the deceased's lifestyle and help to build up a picture of what social and economic conditions were like in a particular locality at a particular time.
Kirk Session Records
The minutes of the meetings of the Kirk Sessions in each parish contain a great variety of information from additional information on regular and irregular marriages to headstones, the poor, orphans and widows. These records may be consulted when necessary.
Other records
It may be useful to research Monumental Inscriptions which exist for family members, as well as obituaries, war records etc.
The above records would only be consulted after prior consultation with the client and any copies of wills, testaments, Kirk Session Records etc would be obtained for a further cost.